UNCTAD-GIZ-EAC Secretariat
Regional Workshop
Policy Coherence for local production of pharmaceutical products and
other means to improve access to medicine and medical products in
the East African Community
Kampala, Uganda
21-23 September 2015
Draft workshop programme
1. Introduction: background, objective and methodology..................................................................... 2
2. Draft Programme ................................................................................................................................... 3
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1. Introduction: background, objective and methodology
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the East African Community
(EAC) Secretariat and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are organising a
regional workshop for the promotion of policy coherence for local production of pharmaceutical products
and other means to improve access to medicine and medical products in the East African Community.
The workshop is intended to facilitate discussion on key features of the industrial, trade and health related
initiatives, policies and laws of EAC among policy makers, regulatory agencies, the private sector and civil
society. EAC so far has adopted the Regional Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Action, 2012-2016
and the Regional Intellectual Property Policy on the Utilisation of Public Health-Related WTO-TRIPS
Flexibilities and the Approximation of National Intellectual Property Legislation, 2013. Yet many of the key
policy and regulatory initiatives of EAC are at the working stage. These include an EAC Anti-Counterfeit
Bill (2013) and the proposed African Community Medicines and Food Safety Commission (EACMFSC)
Bill, the Medicines Registration Harmonization initiative (launched in 2012) and the procurement of
essential medicines and health supplies.
Objective
The breadth of the current initiatives at the EAC level would have paramount implication for access to
medicine and medical products. The objective of the workshop is to enable the identification of gaps and
the means to promote policy coherence at the regional level for improved access to medicines, as well as
priority action areas for EAC and its partner states. The third day morning session is dedicated for group
discussion on each theme of the workshop.
Methodology
The methodology of the Workshop consists of dedicated discussions on health, industrial, trade,
intellectual property and innovation policies involving a presentation of the key issues, commentaries from
selected discussants, and open discussions by all participants. Each session will have a facilitator and
rapporteur. The regional experts should take a leading role in the discussion.
The workshop will also provide for the exchange of experience with the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS). International experts will facilitate and provide input based on developments
at international level.
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2. Draft Programme
Kampala, Uganda, Venue to be determined
21 September 2015
Opening Session
08:30 – 09:00
09:00 – 09:30
09:30 – 10:00
10:00 – 10:30
10:30 – 10:45
10:45 – 11:30
Welcome Remarks
Introductory Session
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing for Access to Opening discussion
Medical Products: Developing a Multidisciplinary facilitated by
Regional Framework to Improve Public Health
GIZ/UNCTAD/
Session 1 - The role of Regional Health Policy and Drug regulations
Facilitator:
Rapporteur: (drug regulatory expert)
Overview of EAC health policy development:
EAC Secretariat
 Regional health policy, universal
health coverage and health insurance
 Harmonization of drug regulations;
 Good Manufacturing Practices
Coffee break
Comments (maximum- 10mnts each)
 Views from the private sector on EAC
regional health policy initiatives;
 Experience of the Western African
region on regional health policy and
drug regulations;
 Views from the Civil society;
 Views from partners:
11:30 – 12:30
Open discussion
12:30 – 13:30
Lunch Break
14:00-14:30
UNCTAD
GIZ
EAC Secretariat
FEAPMA representative.
West African Health
Organisation (WAHO)
Center for Health, Human
Rights and Development
(CEHURD)/or East African
Health Platform (EAHP)
Representative of GIZ,
BMGF, WB, MRH project,
and WHO
All Participants
Session 2 - The Health and Industrial Policy Nexus
Facilitator:
Rapporteur: (industry expert)
Regional Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of EAC Secretariat
Action and EAC Industrialisation Policy
14:30 – 15:00
Experience of ECOWAS in regional industrial
policy for pharmaceutical production
ECOWAS
15:00-15:45
Comment (15mnts each):
 Views from the private sector;
 Views from development finance
institutions:
FEAPM Representative
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WB-IFC, African
Development Bank, EAC

Views from National Ministries of
Industries
Development Bank
Representative of one
Ministry of Industry, from
EAC partner states
15:45 – 16:00
Coffee break
16:00 – 17:00
Open discussion
All Participants
Reception
22 September 2015
Session 3 - Trade, Procurement and Supply management
Facilitator:
Rapporteur: (supply management expert – Representative of National
Procurement Agency )
09:00 – 09:30 The state of EAC internal market and common
EAC Secretariat
external tariff: implications for drug policy
09:30 – 10:00 Comments (15mnts each)
FEAPMA representative.
 Views from the private sector
 Experience of the Western African
Representative of
region.
ECOWAS
10:00 – 10:30 Questions and Answers
All Participants
10:30 – 10:45 Coffee break
10:45 – 11:15 The role of EAC on:
EAC Secretariat
 Harmonisation of procurement practices
 Regional
pooled
procurement
of
pharmaceutical and supply.
11:15 – 11:45 Experience of West African Health Organisation WAHO
(WAHO) on procurement for local producers
11:45 – 12:30 Open discussion
Lunch Break
12:15 – 13:30
13:30 – 14:00
15:00 – 15:15
Open
discussion:
Control
of
trade
in Facilitated by UNCTAD
Unauthorised/Substandard and fake medicine
Session 4 - Science, Technology and Innovation: Foundations for Local
Production
Facilitator:
Rapporteur: (innovation expert)
Technology, Innovation and skill development in EAC Secretariat
the pharmaceutical sector: the role of regional
cooperation
Comments (10mints each):
 Makerere University)/ Inter-University
Ermias Biadgleng, Legal
Council for East Africa IUCEA)
Expert, UNCTAD
 UNCTAD
 KEMRI/Uganda Health Research
Organization
Coffee break
15:15 – 16:00
Open Discussion
14:00 – 14:30
14:30 – 15:00
All Participants
23 September 2015
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09:00 – 09:30
09:30 – 09:40
Session 5 - The Art of Coordination: Group Discussion
Review of discussions
UNCTAD
Introduction to Group discussion
UNCTAD
 Introduction;
 Setting up the groups;
 Selection of group discussion facilitators
and rapporteurs.
Four groups:
Group 1: The role of Regional Health Policy and Drug Regulations (Session 1)
Group 2: The Health and Industrial Policy Nexus (Session 2)
Group 3: Trade, Procurement and Supply Management (Session 3)
Group 4: Science, Technology and Innovation: Foundations for Local
Production (Session 4).
Each group to address:
1. Key issues for Regional mandate and coordination;
2. Regional-partner state coordination;
3. Expectations from:
a. EAC Secretariat and regional bodies;
b. Partner states (Industry, trade, health, drug authority, intellectual
property, and customs offices);
c. Pharmaceutical Manufactures;
d. Universities and research centres;
e. International partners
09:40 – 12:30
Group discussion (with floating coffee break)
12:30 – 14:00
13:30 – 14:00
14:40 – 15:10
15:10 – 15:25
15:25 – 15:40
Lunch break
Preparation of
report of
discussion
Presentation of results of
discussion
Open discussion
Coffee break
Workshop Evaluation Forms
15:40 – 15:50
15:50 – 16:20
Presentation of certificate
Closing statement
14:00 – 14:40
the
group
the
group
Group discussion facilitators and
rapporteurs
Group rapporteurs
UNCTAD/GIZ/ EAC Secretariat
UNCTAD/GIZ/ EAC Secretariat
UNCTAD;
EAC Secretariat
GIZ;
EAC Secretariat;
ECOWAS;
Participants.
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